June was a record-breaking month on Unicorn, with $5.3M in hammer sales, 21,000+ bottles sold, and over 340,000 bids placed by nearly 5,000 buyers—all the highest totals ever in a single month. Bourbon accounted for 62% of sales ($2.9M), while Scotch and Rye combined for over 21% ($1.0M).

By the Numbers

Price Range Breakdown

While several high-end bottles attracted attention this month, the overall price range breakdown reflects broad participation across the market. The majority of bottles sold were under $250—highlighting the category’s appeal to both seasoned collectors and newer buyers alike.

The chart below shows the price range breakdown by quantity of bottles sold

Brand Highlights

At a Glance

• Van Winkle led hammer sales with a strong showing across Pappy 15-, 20-, and 23-Year bottlings, rare Van Winkle 16- and 17-Year Family Reserves, and the standout Old Rip Van Winkle 25-Year Decanter.
• Weller moved more bottles than any other brand, with a high total hammer across 12 Year, Antique 107, and William Larue Weller. 
• Willett delivered strong numbers from Family Estate Private Barrels, particularly 22- to 25-Year single barrels.
• Michter’s was anchored by 20- and 25-Year releases, with strong showings from multiple Celebration Sour Mash editions and demand across the 10-Year expressions.
• Macallan saw strong sales across a mix of Fine & Rare, Sherry Oak, anniversary expressions, and multiple lots from the Edition Series.
  

Bid Volume & Demand

• Port Ellen saw strong bidding activity, with cult-status Islay malts driving solid results amid renewed interest ahead of the distillery’s revival. 
• Karuizawa’s vintage bottlings saw strong demand, while Yamazaki attracted high bidding interest led by the 18-Year Mizunara “100th Anniversary” and key age-stated releases—underscoring momentum in high-end Japanese whisky fueled by rarity and legacy.
• Strong demand for William Heavenhill, Van Winkle and Old Taylor reflected interest in premium, heritage-driven American whiskeys with limited releases and distinctive age statements.
• Bid volume for D.H. Cromwell and A. Smith Bowman highlighted momentum in smaller American producers with distinctive age statements or limited releases.
  

Category Highlights 

Bourbon

Bourbon hammer sales totaled $2.9M, with Van Winkle, Weller, and Willett combining for $847K—accounting for 37% of total category sales.

Rye

Rye had a standout month, with hammer sales up 44% and average price per lot up 13%, driven largely by the epic Father’s Day lineup that brought nine of the most iconic Willett ryes to auction for the first time ever. The collection—including LeNell’s Red Hook Rye, Rathskeller, Bitter Truth, and a suite of rare private barrel Willetts—generated over $120,000 in hammer sales. All were offered as $0 reserve single lots, setting a new benchmark for high-end rye.

Scotch

Scotch hammer sales grew 61% month-over-month, fueled by strong performance from both legacy distilleries and independent producers. Macallan led sales by a wide margin, fueled by multiple standout bottles—including a 22 Year Fine & Rare and several 30 Year Sherry Oak bottlings. Ardbeg and Compass Box also had notably strong results, with rare age-stated and sherried releases signaling rising interest in high-quality Scotch beyond traditional single malts.

The Leaderboards 

This Month’s Highest-Priced Bottles:

1. $31,300: LeNell's 'Red Hook' Rye (Barrel 2, 2007) | 77 bids
2. $25,200: Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Bourbon Decanter (2017) | 91 bids
3. $23,700: LeNell's Red Hook Rye (Barrel 4, 2008) | 58 bids
4. $20,500: Michter's 25 Year Single Barrel Rye | 70 bids
5. $20,100: Van Winkle 20 Year Corti Brothers 'Special Reserve' Bourbon | 116 bids

This Month’s Most Competitive Bottles:

1. 246 bids:  Compass Box Breakthru Blended Scotch | $2,925 
2. 158 bids:  Van Winkle Family Reserve '1985 100 Proof' Rye | $5,050
3. 154 bids:  Springbank 1963 Single Malt Scotch | $2,200
4. 152 bids:  Yamazaki '1984 25th Anniversary' Single Malt Japanese Whisky | $12,700
5. 146 bids: Michter's Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey (2016) | $15,200

Top Performers (vs. High Estimate):

1. High est. $8,000: William Heavenhill 'Signature' Barrel Strength Bourbon (2nd Edition) | $14,300
2. High est. $8,000: Yamazaki '1984 25th Anniversary' Single Malt Japanese Whisky  | $12,700
3. High est. $750: Woodford Reserve 'Kentucky Derby 127' Bourbon (1 Liter) | $4,125
4. High est. $75: Compass Box Breakthru Blended Scotch | $2,925
5. High est. $650: Woodford Reserve 'Kentucky Derby 129' Bourbon (1 Liter) | $3,450